Fig. 1

Parasite load (represented in log-transformed value) comparison (Mann–Whitney test, two-tailed, p-exact value) at a one ng of sand fly DNA and b one sand fly (arbitrary unit) levels between microscopy negative but LD-qPCR and LD-RPA positive pooled samples (Mic− PCR+ RPA+;n = 19), and microscopy positive smeared samples (Mic+ PCR+ RPA+;n = 27). Median parasite loads for Mic− PCR+ RPA+ group and Mic+ PCR+ RPA+ group were a 0.11 and 1.17 per ng of sand fly DNA, and b 17.89 and 240.4 per sand fly unit, respectively. Box and whiskers plots denote minimum, maximum, median, and interquartile range values. ****p < 0.0001; ***p < 0.001